Illegal Immigration

Illegal Immigration Defense Attorney in Houston

Houston Deportation Defense Lawyers

According to The Lone Star Foundation, the immigration rate has exploded
in Texas, "In 1970, there were only 310,000 foreign-born citizens
in the state. By 1990, that number had increased 391 percent, to 1.5 million.
According to a 2004 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the number of foreign
born residents of Texas in that year was 3.45 million, 1,100 percent of
the 1970 number." While these numbers largely represent legal immigrants,
a proportionally growing percentage comes from illegal immigrants.

According to U.S. law it is a violation for:

"Any immigrant to enter or attempt to enter the U.S. at any place
or time not designated by immigration officers, to elude inspection by
officers, to enter or attempt to enter by using false or misleading representation
or the willful concealment of material facts."

As a border state, according to The Census Bureau, Texas is home to 15%
of all illegal immigrants in the United States. Because many of the jobs
that immigrants take don't meet the criteria for a
work visa, often they choose to cross the border illegally to work on their own.
When this occurs, a person can be subject to fines, imprisonment and deportation.

Penalties for Illegal Immigrants

For a first time offense, an offender can face up to six months in jail
and a fine between $50 and $250. A subsequent violation can result in
a prison sentence up to two years and a fine between $100 and $500. The
worst scenario is that a person could be subject to these penalties, and
then following release from prison, be deported. With the help of a Houston
deportation defense attorney from our firm, you can take legal action today.

The Deportation Process

The deportation process works as follows: first you are notified that you
must appear at a deportation hearing by the Department of Homeland Security,
then you must attend the deportation hearing and depending on the ruling,
you either must leave the United States or, if you're eligible, you
can apply to receive a type of relief, such as cancellation of removal,
adjustment of status or asylum. All of these types of relief allow you
to stay in the U.S.

You could be eligible for
cancellation of removal if you've been in the U.S. for 10 straight years, during this time
period you were not served a notice to appear (NTA), you were a person
of "good moral character," and you show that your removal would
be a hardship to your family.

Adjustment of Status and Asylum

Illegal immigrants are
not eligible for an adjustment of status. You are only eligible for adjustment
of status if you are admissible for permanent residence and an immigrant
visa is readily available for you. If you did not appear at the removal
proceedings or violated restrictions on your temporary visa, you are also
ineligible for an adjustment of status.

If you are a refugee from your homeland, asylum could be granted to you.
If you were persecuted or fear for your life due to your race, religion,
nationality or membership in a particular social or political group, asylum
is a viable option for you.

Why Secure a Houston Deportation Defense Attorney?

According to a story run by
The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and
The Blog of the Legal Times, thousands of people in immigration detention facilities don't get
legal representation (this information was uncovered by a survey by the
Chicago-based National Immigration Justice Center). As a result of geographically
isolated facilities, government restrictions on phone contacts and inadequately
funded programs, illegal immigrants are often left defenseless and alone
throughout a legal battle. This is not acceptable. Illegal aliens, while
they are within the borders of the United States, are granted the same
fundamental constitutional rights that are granted to all Americans.

Protect your rights today and fight to remain in the U.S. by
contacting Simon Law Group, PLLC. We can provide you with the aggressive representation you are searching for.